Christmas Illuminations at Mount Vernon
Experience an Evening of Illuminations & Fireworks
Join Mount Vernon for a family-friendly celebration of the holiday season with an enchanted evening of Christmas Illuminations.
Historic spaces throughout the estate will be aglow and illuminated, creating a festive atmosphere that will delight guests of all ages!
Watch a Nighttime Fireworks Show
Enjoy spectacular holiday fireworks, choreographed to music, over the Potomac River. The fireworks program begins at approximately 8 p.m.
Meet George Washington
Enjoy a special holiday greeting from General Washington on the east lawn.
Savor the Season with S’mores & Treats
Warm up with food, including s’mores kits and holiday drinks from the Mount Vernon Inn Food Truck.
Shop an Artisan Winter Market
Visit with artisan sutlers who produce hand-crafted 18th-century wares, available for purchase at the Winter Market.
Discover 18th-Century Holiday Traditions
- Learn about past holiday traditions in the Ford Orientation Center as you prepare to enter Washington’s world.
- Listen to people from Washington’s world and speak about what preparing for twelfth night was like in the Interpretative Center.
- Play games in a tavern-style tent on the west end of the bowling green. Dance to colonial music in the greenhouse (last dance called at 7:45 p.m.).
Meet Aladdin the Camel
Meet our holiday guest, Aladdin the Camel, continuing the tradition of George Washington bringing a camel to Mount Vernon in 1787.
Chat with Revolutionary War Soldiers
View an 18th-century winter encampment and learn about the life of Revolutionary soldiers.
Explore a Straw Bale Maze
Wind through a straw bale kids’ maze filled with Christmas lights.
Play “I Spy” & Look for General Washington
Search for General Washington, hidden among the lights and enchanted spaces of the estate, and see how many you can find!
Join Us for Children’s Storytime
Visit the Interpretive Center for story time.
Visit the Museum
Discover the history of Mount Vernon and its landscape with our exhibit, Mount Vernon: The Story of an American Icon.
Seating & Safety Information
Lawn Seating
Guests are welcome to bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on the east lawn, but please be courteous to those around you. Oversize chairs, large strollers, stroller wagons, tables, tents, carts, and coolers are not permitted. Seating is not provided.
Please note that all guests must go through Bag Inspections upon entrance.
Bag Inspections
Please be aware of the potential long line for entry at the beginning of the event, and help the line move faster by packing lightly.
Accessibility
Christmas Illuminations is an outdoor experience at night. Be prepared for low temperatures, varying light levels, and uneven walkways.
The event also includes moving lights, amplified music, and musket-firing demonstrations, which can be heard throughout the evening in the historic area.
Please contact events@mountvernon.org for more information.
The interior of the Mansion is closed during Christmas Illuminations for preservation work.
Pet Policy
Please note, while we enjoy our four-legged friends during the daytime, pets are not allowed on the grounds for evening events.
